Longoria snaps tie for Rays

Sunday

MIAMI - Evan Longoria hit a tiebreaking single in eighth inning to add to his major league-leading RBI total and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the hapless Florida Marlins 10-3 on Saturday night.

Jason Bartlett had three RBIs and two hits to hike his average to .376, and reserve catcher Michel Hernandez drove in two runs for the Rays (23-22), who have won three consecutive games to climb above .500 for the first time since April 13 . Jeff Niemann allowed one run in six innings.

After winning 15-2 Friday, the Rays benefited from another dismal performance by the slumping Marlins. Florida walked nine, hit a batter, balked home a run, committed three errors and allowed Tampa Bay to break a 3-all tie in the eighth with an unearned run.

Akinori Iwamura walked against Leo Nunez (2-2) to start the inning and advanced on a sacrifice. First baseman Jorge Cantu mishandled a grounder to put runners at the corners, and Longoria followed with a single for his 48th RBI.

The Rays added six runs in the ninth, including four off Matt Lindstrom, who balked in a run.

Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez was lucky to miss his team's latest loss. He was out of town to attend his daughter's high school graduation, and Florida played no better for bench coach Carlos Tosca.

Since an 11-1 start, the Marlins have gone 8-24.

Even in better times they've struggled against the Rays, losing seven in a row in the Citrus Series. During that stretch the Marlins have been outscored by the Rays 68-19.

Tampa Bay won despite stranding 15 runners. The Rays, who entered leading the majors in runs, struggled to scratch out two against Sean West, who went five innings in his major league debut.

They had better luck against the Marlins' beleaguered bullpen, scoring off four relievers. Grant Balfour (2-0) struck out the only batter he faced for the win.

Carl Crawford scored twice and stole a base to improve to 26 for 26 this year. The Rays center fielder also robbed the Marlins twice on flyballs in the fourth, first retreating to make a leaping catch and then charging to make a sliding grab.

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